A Match Made in Heaven - Bitter Gourd and Dried Shrimp

Thursday, July 19th, 2007

Filed Under Bitter Gourd, India - Kerala, Recipes, Shrimp or Prawn, Side Dish - Dry

What makes a perfect couple? Together they bring out the best in each other…

He is bitter and not so smooth when it comes to looks.. She is smelly and shrinking with age… But put them together, it is a match made in heaven…

You suddenly start liking his bitterness, when it is perfectly paired with her oh so slightly salty crunchiness… Dress them up in some spices and the looks won’t matter anymore either…

Yes, they are truly made for each other… Bitter gourd and dried shrimp!

If you don’t believe me, you simply must try this dish…

Ingredients

Bitter gourd pieces thinly sliced - 2 cups
Dried shrimp - 3/4 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 3/4 tsp
Black pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste
Sliced green chilli peppers- 3
Thinly sliced ginger pieces - 2 tsp
Thinly sliced garlic pieces - 1/2 tsp
Thinly sliced onions - 1 cup
A few curry leaves
Fish Tamarind (Kudampuli) - 1 small piece

Method

Add the shrimp, fish tamarind, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, salt and 1/4 cup water to a pan and cook till soft. Discard the fish tamarind, drain the shrimp and save the gravy.
In a frying pan, heat the oil and splutter the mustard seeds. Add the onions, green chilli slices, ginger, garlic and curry leaves and saute till soft.
Add the bitter gourd pieces to the pan and fry for a minute. Add the gravy from the shrimp and cook till the bitter gourd pieces are soft and the water is almost gone.
Add the cooked shrimp and black pepper powder to the pan and saute till completely dry.
Serve hot with rice.

Still think the pair is lacking a bit of flair? May be it is a threesome that will get these two going, yep, throw a pretty young thing like coconut into the mix. Simply add some sauteed sliced young coconut pieces along with the cooked shrimp to the last step, and there you have it - an explosion of sensual flavors in your mouth!

Work has been pretty hectic lately, with our code complete date coming up in less than a month! That is my excuse for being MIA from the food blogging community. I will be coming by to check out all the delicious posts I’ve missed, and hopefully will get to participate in some of my favorite blog evens too…

Don’t forget Monthly Mingle Grill It!

I am hosting Monthly Mingle this month. The theme is Grilling and the deadline is August 15th.

Check out the details here.

Comments

29 Responses to “A Match Made in Heaven - Bitter Gourd and Dried Shrimp”

Asha on July 19th, 2007 8:16 pm

But but but…..I don’t like both that much!!:D
Hi Sig,everybody is working too hard these days.Summer should be more relaxed I thought! What do I know? I stay home!!!;D
Jyothsna on July 19th, 2007 8:44 pm

Can’t comment on this one…neither dried shrimp nor bittergourd are to my taste… You are also busy?? It’s ok, keep blog hopping, it’s recreation
bee on July 19th, 2007 8:58 pm

ignore everyone else, sig. i’m firmly on your side. bittergourd and shrimp are two of the tastiest things in the universe.
Mishmash ! on July 19th, 2007 11:17 pm

I loved the way you introduced the couple Never tasted this combo, but am sure it is good as both are my fav’s….is it amma’s creation?

Shn
musical on July 19th, 2007 11:47 pm

I love that intro :). Haven’t tried shrimps, but i LOVE bittergourd.

I know there are those days when one is chasing deadlines…..Don’t stress too much and take good care, sweetie.

hugs,
musical.
Anh on July 20th, 2007 12:35 am

I admit I am not a big fan of bitter gourd but I cook it occasionally for my friends. this combo sounds very good. I’ll try it soon!
Richa on July 20th, 2007 1:38 am

hey, you busy gal, take it easy
i like him, bitter & rugged, but her, hmmmmm ……
Roopa on July 20th, 2007 1:53 am

i love the bitter, but the other i can’t comment… you busy take it easy blog only when time permits.. nice you took time to let us know that you are busy girl…:)
Sharmi on July 20th, 2007 3:47 am

I dont know about the combination, but the pic rocks.
sra on July 20th, 2007 3:50 am

Nice intro. Never knew they were combined and eaten!
Suganya on July 20th, 2007 4:37 am

So you are Emma now? self-declared match maker?
Khaoo on July 20th, 2007 6:05 am

Sig,

Would you post a picture of the dried shrimp and kudampuli you used?

This is for those of us who are:

(a)wandering up and down the aisles of our local asian stores inspecting the various sizes of shrimp wondering — hmm, to get this almost shrimp dust sized shrimp, or those chunky thick dried shrimp or what.

(b) wondering whether to use Maharashtrian moist kokam or dry vadam-ish camboge

Thanks!
Khaoo
Sig on July 20th, 2007 6:35 am

Asha, I know you hate bittergourd, but shrimp too… may be you should try these two together… :). I know, summer is supposed to be relaxed, but unfortunatley its not for me

Jyo, u too… . Yeah, blog hopping sure is recreating, if I just got some time

Bee, hey thanks , these gals have no idea what they are talking abt

Shn. it is Amma’s creation, I’d have never thought of the combo…

Musie, good to see you girl, its just been sooooo busy lately

Anh, oooh you are such a great friend… to cook stuff that you don’t like!

Richa, She completes him… so don’t ignore her…

Roopa, thanks for the support, it really gets tough to juggle work, life and blogging sometime

Sharmi, I wasn’t too sure when I heard about this either, but then I tried it and it tasted wonderful, I swear!

Sra, me neither its my mom’s recipe, and I am glad she made it

Suganya, lol… not Emma, more like Alicia Silverstone’s character in Clueless

Khaoo, Okay, I get your point. I don’t have a picture handy, will update the post as soon as I have one… We used the tiny thin dried shrimp with shell on, but the size shouldn’t matter all that much. And we used the Kerala kudampuli. Here is a picture. http://spicesofkerala.wordpress.com/2007/03/29/kudampuli-kerala-tamarind/ Hope this helps.
Padmaja on July 20th, 2007 9:08 am

Sig!!
Bittergourd and Dried Shrimp, I am dreaming right??
I usually make with brinjal or tomato, cucumber but never ever with bitterground and didn’t think we can combine these two,Great post indeed.
Have to try as I love both the ingredients!!
Raaga on July 20th, 2007 9:41 am

Looks like everyone’s terribly busy. We’ll be waiting for you when you return.
Dumela = Rachna on July 20th, 2007 12:07 pm

i wudnt know, coz I’m a veggietarian…..
Swapna on July 20th, 2007 2:20 pm

Dear Sig,
All the best with the code completion and testing.
Anita on July 20th, 2007 3:05 pm

So now I have to buy dried shrimp! TH will think there is no hope for me - fish sauce, shrimp paste, now dried shrimp! What next?! (insert evil grin here).

More uses for kudampuli please - is it ever used in a vegetarian dish? Not fish time here in Delhi yet…
Srivalli on July 20th, 2007 3:11 pm

hhahah…must say your intro is good enough to know the taste…:)…

Srivalli
www.cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com
Reena on July 20th, 2007 6:33 pm

Sig, I love Bitter gourd. I have to try this combo. The picture looks so tempting and great write-up.

Hope your parents are having a great time and you are exercising regularly for all the food you are gorging in:)):)). Enjoy!!!
Mallugirl on July 20th, 2007 8:57 pm

i like both so i guess i have to try this..mom’s recipe?i have heard a lot of bittergourd with shrimp in chinese cooking but not in ours..we are always learning something new..
Sig on July 21st, 2007 8:21 pm

Padmaja, lol… no you are not dreaming, it is a nice combo..hope you try.

Raaga, yeah most people are busy with vacation, I am busy at work :(, I don’t mind the other kind.

Rachna,

Swapna thanks

Anita, u know you should powder the dried shrimp, noone will notice the difference… and would love the taste too…
For veggie dishes with kudampuli, my mom says you can use a mock-fish curry with plaintain pieces and it tastes close to a real fish curry… try it sometime

Srivalli, thanks

Reenaaaaaaa, welcome back… am I dreaming? Where did you disappear? I sent you a mail…. hope you are doing great!

Shaheen, my mom says she learned it from her mom…not sure if it is a popular combo, but it sure tastes great!
Pravs on July 21st, 2007 8:22 pm

love bitter gourd and dried shrimp…dish looks like a match made in heaven indeed. Will def try this.
Anita on July 22nd, 2007 5:11 am

Mock-fish curry with plantain - will try very soon. Thanks - you and your mom! I’ll use the recipe for fish curry you posted not very long back…
Amy on July 22nd, 2007 6:30 pm

Bitter gourd was an acquired taste for me but now I love it! This recipe looks fantastic.
rv on July 31st, 2007 7:35 pm

Liked the combination:)
Pravs on September 4th, 2007 8:03 pm

Sig, i had this for lunch today and you are so right, the flavor, the combination is so very good. Loved it !!!!
Shella on September 7th, 2007 7:26 am

I am not that big a fan of bittergourd, but anything added to chemeen is divine, I will be allowed to pick up the chemeen & leave out the gourd…wont I??? I always do that.
Kudampuli (Gambooge) : Live To Eat on April 3rd, 2008 10:04 pm

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